ASH Wilson admits she was "slightly up in my seat" when Tara Andrews' free kick whistled past goal and narrowly missed what would have been a late equaliser, but the Jets coach knows Newcastle need to "lift" another level in order to match it with the likes of Sydney FC.
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The Jets, playing their first home game of the W-League season, pushed the Sky Blues and forced them to come from behind but ultimately the visitors reigned supreme 2-1 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday.
Andrews put the hosts ahead in the 41st minute with her second goal in as many games but Sydney FC replied twice in the second half courtesy of impressive strikes by Taylor Ray and Rachel Lowe.
"Very disappointed with the result and to be honest it wasn't our best game," Wilson said.
"I expected a lot better with the ball from our girls. Too many cheap turnovers and too many lost battles, but we still manged to come into half-time 1-0 up despite not playing our best football.
"Unfortunately we weren't able to lift to the level that we needed to protect that lead."
Sydney FC dominated proceedings for the most part - recording almost 20 percent more possession, producing 174 extra passes and managing, largely, to keep the Jets pinned in their own half.
Newcastle scrambled well in defence, making 19 clearances, and Wilson acknowledged the work done to "nullify" Sky Blues attacking threat Princess Ibini-Isei.
"I think [Hannah] Brewer and then Tess [Tamplin] did a good job in nullifying her [Ibin-Isei] today. She didn't have nearly as many chances as she did against Wanderers," the coach said.
The Jets took an unlikely lead when Andrews used her left foot from close range to finish off a ball headed on by two of her teammates inside the 18-yard box.
Ray equalised shortly after the break before Sydney FC substitute Lowe landed from distance in the 75th minute.
In the closing stages, a handball which wasn't far away away from being a penalty gave Andrews an opportunity.
"I was slightly up in my seat," Wilson said about her reaction when she first saw the free kick taken.
Jets defenders Taren King and Cassidy Davis both picked up yellow cards.
Newcastle quartet Lauren Allan, Tessa Tamplin, Jemma House and Pana Petratos were all used off the bench after the hour mark.
The result gives Sydney FC two wins from as many outings while the Jets are to register a point, having gone down 2-1 to Wanderers in their season opener last weekend.
Newcastle host unbeaten leaders Canberra next at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday week (January 17).
Meanwhile, Melbourne City striker Rhali Dobson, who plays NNSW Women's Premier League for Merewether, will notch up her 100th W-League game on Sunday.
SYDNEY FC 2 (Taylor Ray 48th min, Rachel Lowe 75th min) defeated NEWCASTLE 1 (Tara Andrews 41st min).
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IN THE NEWS:
Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
